Ok, I turned the more severe anti-spam blocking restrictions on posting here. What this means is that if you are posting from an IP address that Akismet or other third-party services have black-listed, then you will not be able to post here. Since I've put the new restrictions up, we've had zero spam (that I am aware of). What always happens with these things is that some legitimate posters will be prevented from posting if they happen to also be on a black-listed network.

If you are affected by this, there is not much that I can do to help, because I have no control over what networks are black-listed. I believe the error message that pops up has some suggestions for how to get your network unlisted.

I think, considering the number that have been flying through under the wire by disguising themselves as new members, there probably isn't any real way to prevent them access.

I've always said that anyone who has to use such underhanded means to sell a product or service really hasn't much of a product or service to sell. Most often, it's merely the trash that no one else with a lick of sense wants.

I've added a few new features that make it a bit more difficult to register, and that I have to approve all new registrations. I've also pruned all users that have never actually activated their accounts here.

PLEASE let me know if you see anything out of the order with the forum software.